"Flowers are associated with romance so it is possible that they are priming the women," Richard Wiseman, a University of Hertfordshire psychologist who has researched the science of attraction, said.

"In the same way it has been shown that people see words to do with old age then walk in a slower way, or when an interviewer holds a warm cup of coffee they are more likely to give someone a job.

"{The idea is that without realising it, certain associations are brought up in your mind which influences how you later behave.

"But I think there is another explanation. Because flowers look and smell nice, it puts someone in a good mood. And if you are in a good mood you are more likely to be creative, friendly, generous and to find someone attractive," he added.